Carv Thompson, an honored pharmacist and 2012 inductee into the South Dakota Hall of Fame, died Aug. 11, 2021, at Lakeside Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, after suffering a heart attack and stroke July 16.
Thompson, ’88, was born Oct. 25, 1932, in Faith and lived there almost his entire life. He graduated from Faith High School in 1950, earned his pharmacy degree in 1954 and then served as a U.S. Army medical officer in Japan. In 1957, he returned home and was a pharmacist in his father’s drug store. A year later he purchased the store and renamed it Thompson Drug.
Thompson and his wife, Margaret, owned and operated Thompson Drug until 2002. They expanded the store to a chain, adding six pharmacies in western South Dakota.
In 1974 he received the profession of pharmacy’s highest honor, the Bowl of Hygeia Award for outstanding community service. In 1987 he was the recipient of the SDSU Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award for Outstanding Service to Home Community and in 2008 the SDSU College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions presented Thompson with their Distinguished Alumnus Award for 50 years as a registered pharmacist.
His faith in Faith was reflected in a 10-minute, Monday through Friday radio broadcast of Faith area news on the Sturgis station KBHB. For 28 years, he told of the news of Faith as well as sharing community happenings and reporting on school sports. The broadcast was heard in parts of five states—South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana—and raised thousands of dollars for worthy causes.
He also was the driving force behind the Faith Stock Show and Rodeo, a five-day event each August, from 1964 to 1992.
An active Republican, Thompson was appointed by Gov. Archie Gubbrud to a three-year term on the South Dakota Board of Pharmacy and reappointed by Gov. Nils Boe. Gov. Frank Farrar appointed Thompson to a two-year term in the South Dakota House of Representatives. Thompson won re-election in 1970.
Gov. Bill Janklow appointed Thompson to the South Dakota State Fair Commission and was re-appointed by Gov. George Mickelson. Thompson served 13 years as chairman and entertainment director. Gov. Walt Miller appointed him to a three-year term on the South Dakota Gaming Commission.
In 2015 the Thompsons moved to Omaha to spend their remaining years near daughter Linda (Vince) Aughenbaugh and family. He is survived by his wife, daughter and son, John (Eva) of Lead; eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and a sister, Marilyn McDermott, of Chandler, Arizona.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Gayle Van Dam; and a brother, Cullen.
